Hole sealing device



23, 1954 N STEVENS HOLE SEALING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19. 1950 Patented Mar. 23,rv 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HGJE SEALING Nichols Stevens, Chicago,- I'll. ApplicationiDecember 19, 1950, Seria1No.`2/91,`6=3'5 (Ci. Z520i-'25).'

14 Claims; l'

The present invention relates toa hole seal-ing device, and more lparticularly the invention rei lates to a holey sealing device for use inclosing a hole in a wall structure having one side which is inaccessible.

With the relatively high pressures used today in. boilers, lid-uid transfer mains, and other simi-'- lar apparatus, wherein one side. of the wall structure is inaccessible,. a slight hole or rupture in the Wall structure heretofore meant either a maior repair job requiring substantialrebuilding. of the wall` structure, or complete discard of the ruptured. portion. As either one of these measures involves considerable expense and a great deal of wastage,V therel is a great need for soinemeans for quickly patching up the ruptured wallstructure oil such apparatus.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a hole sealing device having a novel toggle bolt assembly which facilitates mounting ofthe device on a ruptured Wall structure having one. side which is inaccessible.

Another object of the invention isl to provide a hole sealing device which is designed to supply additional support on the inaccessible' side of a ruptured wall, section,` whereby enlargement of the rupture inthe wall section due to the sides thereof being pushed out is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel hole sealing device which allows for the use of a plurality of the sealing device up tightly over a hole or rupe ture in a wall. structure.`

Astlll further objectof the invention is to provide: a hole sealing- -device having a novel hole sealing gasket construction'.

n A feature of the invention is the provision of a holev sealing device including a novel toggle bolt assembly having. any attaching stein and relatively movable crossarm meansfor engaging the imaccessible surface of a wallstructure having one of its. sides ifnaccessibla the crossarm means being` adapted toengage the surfaceot the inacces fastening bolts for drawing sible side atfmorethan. two. diametrically opposed f.

pol'nfts.

, Another feature oi'. the invention is the provision of a hole sealing device having aL novel tog--A gie. holt' assembly including attaching stein and at least two relatively movable; transversely disposedk crossarm means for engaging ai surface, the crossarm means being disposedi transversely relative to eaehx other# and to the.n longitudinal axis` of the attaching stem.

Still ano-therfeature-of the@ invention is the provision of aholei sealing device: having anovelV 2,. hole sealing gasket structure including. a relatively thicky matting of resilient materials a rigid supporting plate backing the resilient material, and a relatively thin bendable sheet disposed over the backing plate, and bent over the edges thereof for gripping the resilient matting to hold: the same in assembled relation with the backing plate,l thev structure thus composed having aplurality ofY bolt receiving apertures therein.-

Other objects, features, and many ot the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood upon-- areading o-fthe following written description when consideredin eonnec tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1y is a cross sectional View; partly in' ele'- vation, of the novel hole sealing device comprisL ing the invention, showing, the' same mounted on a ruptured wall section;

llig.` 2 is a sectional view, partly inelevation, of the hole sealing device taken throughv plane 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3- is across sectional view taken through plane 3--3 oi the device im Fig. l, and showing the construction ofv the crossarml meansor mein bers comprising aportion of the hole sealing de v1ce;

Fig.` i is a plan elevational view showing the construction ci the erossarrn members illustrated in Fig. 3,'l and Fig. 5 isa side elevational view of the toggle bolt assembly comprising al part' ot the invention; and. showing the same in a. compressed condition.

In practicing ther invention, a hole* sealing dea vice is provided whichincludes' a novel toggle bolt assembly and a novel. sealing gasket struc@ ture. The toggle bolt assembly compri-ses an attaching stem having a head portion, a first erossarna` means operatively connected to the head porti-on of the attaching stem', and having means disposed' thereinv for normally loiasimgl tl-'ie first crossarln means to assume a position@ trans-i verse to the. longitudinalA axis of. the attaching stem. The toggle bolt assembly also# includes ar second cross arm. mean-s operativelyl related t@ the iirst? crossarm. means, and having, iiie'ans mounted thereon for normally biasing, ther seca' ond crossarm means to` assume af. positi'oni sube stantialfly transverse tot thelongitudinali aXes fthe firstlcrossarm means' and? the` attaching steril-f. The cros'sariii means" have a plurality off ap tures therein' adapted to cri-operatewi-'thi ipini-1 rality di? apertures in a2 novel Sealing.' gasket ture for receiving a plur'a'lity7 ot tightening; used; ini holding the? toggle colti assembly and e sea-ling gasket in position" over ai hole:l lf-"he gas# ket structure includes a matting of resilient material mounted on a rigid supporting back plate, and held in assembled relation with the back plate by means of a bendable sheet of material disposed over the back plate and bent to grip the matting or resilient material.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a ruptured wall structure is shown at II having a hole I2 therein closed by a novel hole sealing device including a sealing gasket structure I3 held in place by a toggle bolt assembly, indicated at I4, and a plurality of tightening bolts I6. The wall structure II may be a side of a boiler, a liquid transfer main, or some other similar apparatus wherein one side of the wall structure is inaccessible, and wherein a relatively high pressure may be acting on the inaccessible side.

As is best shown in Fig. 2, the novel toggle bolt assembly includes a toggle bolt subassembly having an attaching stem I1, and a first crossarm means comprising a member I8, the toggle bolt subassembly having a construction similar in many respects to the toggle bolt assembly of the hole sealing device disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 607,165, led July 26, 1945, now U. S. Patent No. 2,540,145, granted February 6, 1951. rThe iirst crossarm means is normally biased to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the attaching stem, and has a second crossarm means operatively related thereto. The second crossarm means is normally biased, by means hereinafter disclosed, tc a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of both the first crossarm means and the attaching stem I1 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Adverting to Fig. e, the second crossarm means comprises an elongated rectangular member I9 which may be molded or machined out of steel, and has a plurality of threaded bolt receiving apertures 2l formed along its length. As is best seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, member I9 has a centrally disposed cylindrical cavity 22 formed therein accommodating a removable pivot post 23. Pivot post 23 has a reduced diameter, threaded end portion 24 adapted to engage a complementary threaded aperture 26 in rst crossarm member I8, and is preferably held in assembled relation with second crossarm member I9 by some attaching means, such as the crimping shown at 21 in Fig. 1. Disposed in cavity 22, and surrounding pivot `post 23, is a coiled tension spring 28. As is best shown in Fig. 4, tension spring 28 has one end thereof secured in a transversely running aperture 29 in second crossarm member i9, and has the other end thereof bent normally to the plane of its coils and adapted to engage a second aperture 3I or 3Ia. in first crossarm member IB in the manner shown in Fig. 1. In assembling the toggle bolt, the exposed face shown in Fig. 4 of crossarm member I9 may be turned over and placed on the exposed face shown in Fig. 4 of crossarm I8, with the longitudinal axes of the members running parallel. At the same time the pivot post 23 will become inserted in threaded aperture 26, and the bent, normal end of coiled spring 28 will become inserted in aperture 3I. Thereafter the crossarm member I8 is turned countercloclrwise from its position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, tensioning coil spring 28, which then tends to return the crossarm I8 to a position of axial alignment with crossarm I9, or vice versa. To prevent this from happening, an adjustable guide pin 32 is provided on crossarm member I9, and

a guide means comprising a guide slot 33 is formed on the side of crossarm member I8 adapted to complementally receive crossarm member i9. Guide pin 32 can be adjusted to protrude downwardly into guide slot 33, and when so adjusted, serves to restrain crossarm members i3 and I9 against the action of coil spring 28 in a position such that their longitudinal axes are transverse relative to each other. Ir" desired., the two crossarm members can be so positioned that the turned-up end of coil tension spring 28 engages aperture 3Ia, and the above procedure subsequently followed. Should this be done, tension spring 2B is wound tighter by approximately a quarter turn, and consequently causes the crossarm members to act much faster when released from a compressed position. Because crossarm member I3 is mounted on cross arm member i8, means for transmitting strain to the ends of crossarm member i9 are provided. This means comprises an adjustable leg or post 35 mounted on each end of crossarm member I9. Posts 35 are offset to the side of the longitudinal centerline of crossarm member I9 so that they will not interfere with the above described pivotal movement or" the two members. From the preceding description, it can be appreciated that a single structure is provided which includes a number of supporting elements held in assembled relation by reason of the crimping Z'I on member i9. This structure is such that it can be easily mounted on a previously known toggle bolt subassembly to greatly improve the qualities thereof.

crossarm member I8 is a generally rectangular bar, preferably of steel, and has an axial bore 3S formed therein communicating with a groove 31 formed in one side thereof, and a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 39 formed along its length. At the juncture of axial bore 3% and groove 31, indicated at 39, is a quasi-spherical seat iormed for receiving the head portion ci@ of attaching stern Il. The head portion of attaching stem I1 is quasi-spherically shaped with a shoulder 40a formed therein, and is positioned in the quasi-spherical seat 39 in such a manner that the shoulder 40a is accessible to the axial bore 3S. Positioned in axial bore 39 is a slide member 4I having a stepped portion #32 biased into engagement with the shoulder llia by means of a coiled compression spring i3 positioned in axial bore 35. Adjacent spherical seat 39, in the side oi crossarm member I8 opposite groove 3l, is an aperture which is suiciently large to accommodate the spherical head portion t@ of attaching Stem H, and which is closed by a threaded cap member 4d having a concave face. In order to assemble the attaching stem I'I with crossarm member I9, slide member 4I is depressed against the action of coiled spring d3, and held. in depressed position by means cf an adjustable stop pin 46. Cap i4 is then removed, and the attaching stem inserted and positioned in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Upon release of the stop pin A6, the stepped. portion 42 of slide member 4I is biased into engagement with the shoulder @im in the spherical head portion 39 by biasing spring 43, and causes the attaching stem I'I and cross member I8 to assume positions such that their longitudinal axes are transverse to each other, and preferably form right angles.

Upon the novel toggle bolt assembly comprising attaching stem il, first crossarm means I8 and second cross arm means I9 being assembled in the above described manner, the toggle bolt assembly'can be compressed orrelatively moved `to?the-positionshown ina-Fig.. v-5 of theadrawings .by rotating; crossarm members mand l 19 relative .to leach; other v`so as to. assume ypositions' .paral- `lel-ing their longitudinal axes. This .actionlserves towind the coiledtension spri-ngQ-t even tighter so .thatthefsame tends to fcause the crossarms to again assume the relative position-s Vshown in r3. .Attaching stem Il is then compressed .downwardly into the groove 3l Aagainst the ac -tionlof coiled compression spring vit seas to valign.its.longitudinal axis with the longitudinal axes of crossarm member-I8, thereby forming a compact structure that i easily inserted in a holas-uch .-as .I 2., in the ruptured .wall structure H. 4Upon-the crossarm means i8 and i6 clear .ing .theinaocessible side of the wail structure, .they .are released, yand biasing springs 2t and y43then act in the `'above described manner to causethe two crossarrn `means to assume positionssuch that their -lon-gitudinal axes are translverse relative to each other, and relative to the longitudinal axis of the attaching stem i7. Becauseofthe number thereof, it can be appreciated that the transversely dispos-ed crossarinv lmeans-.provide .additional `support-to the inaccessible side of the lruptured wall structure whereby enlargement of '..the rupture .in ythe wall section `is prevented. This result reason of the fact thatzthe areav of the'inac'cessible-surface lbetween points of engagement of l'the crossarm/means .is reduced to a value such thatanyfurther tendency of the rupture to `enlarge .itself is prevented.

Having inserted the novel togglebolt assembly in the ruptured'wall `structure in the above described manner, the sealing gasket. structure i3 is then brought into positionover the hole. The novel sealinggasket structure indicated Aat it includes-a relatively thick .matting Si of resilient material, such as rubberfor asbestos. Matting 5I .is mounted on a rigid supporting plate :5-2of steel, orthe like, and is held in assembled relation withplate 52 vby means of a bendable sheet of material 53 bent around the sides of .plate .manner shown in Fig-2. The gasket thus constructedhas a plurality of. holt .receiving-apertures-therein which are vadapt-ed to co-operate with the bolt receiving apertures in each ofthe cross-arm nmembers .i3 and 19, .and so positioned that `the matting material i3 disposed between -adacent apertures is suiici-ently .thick t'o withstand' any tendency to be blown out. With this limitation only, the position of tlie'various bolt receiving apertures in .the gasket'structure i3, aswell as in the crossarmmembersfi land i9, can be varied .in order that the hole sealing device thus comprised can Vbe used to close any site or shape hole. Further, the relative dimensions of the two crossarmmembers it and is may be varied so that the .device can .be used to close holes having elongated conngurations, etc,

Having inserted thel novel 4toggle-bolt assembly imposition and placedthe novel .gasket structure over the hole so as to `closetlfie same, a nut and washer-55 .is threaded over attach-ing ystein 1.7 so as to temporarily hold` the sealing device inplace. If necessarvholes may be tapped inthe side of the wall structure foraccomrnodat- Iing an additional .number of tightening bolts it, .and -thesame insertedand drawn-,up so as to .tightly secure-thedevice over thehole. In most instances, however, only the number of tighteing. bolts i6: which. can be accommodated @bythe is .achieved byA 52, and gripping the matting 5i, in the original Yhole appearing in the Wall. structurants needed. Should it be .necessary to cut: additional .holes for i the tightening bolts, however, -a .small aperture :56, shown in. Fig. .2 of the drawings, formed inthe end of attaching stem I1 so as to indicate the position ofv'eachiof the crossarms yafter f insertion. To assist .in .aligning the'. aperturesin the crossarm .members with the apertures .in the gasket'structure,ithe ends of the tighten ing .bolts lmay be pointed. Thus, should .the aperturas be slightly misaligned, the taperedvpoint willserve to draw the crossarm member .apertures into alignment. It should be noted also thatthe attaching stern Il `is threaded throughout its entire'lengthso that the togglevbolt assembly can be mounted on .any .thickness of vWall `section. Should the device be. used on--a relatively thin wall structurafsuch as is illustrated inthe drawings, a two-part cap .comprising `elements 57 .and Sllxnay be yprovided for protecting the unused threaded portion'of attaching stem l1. vSub-- 'sequentlyidamage to the threading is therebyprevented so that the-assembly can be easily removed at any time if desired. The cap is :constructedin't-wo parts, with the top or 'covering part threaded into the Vlower part so that=the rhole'seaiing device can be removedlwithout danger to the toggle bolt assembly should the nut 5.5 tend to freeze in position. This result is-'obtained due tothe fact that the `upper .portion ofthe ycap can ybe removed by applying anunscrewing force 'between the two parts of thefoap member-only. After removal of the r-topof.thecapl portion,the bared end of attaching. stein H may `be gripped with a wrench, or the like, 'and a removing/:force applied to nut 55 without imparting anystrain to the spherical'head portion 4t vand slide member fl l.

:From ythe foregoing descriptiodit canbeeappreciat-ed that the invention provides a novel hole sealing device which can be easily mounted on a, ruptured wall structure, `one side ofy which is inaccessible. The device includesa novel vtoggle bolt assembly which is designed in such man ner that it' provides considerablev support to the inaccessible side of the wall structure-thereby preventing therupture therein yfrom beingfexpanded. Additionally-the designer the toggle bolt assembly `is such that a large number of tightening bolts can be used in drawing the device up against a ruptured wall-structure-so `that a considerably tighterseal overl the rupturelcan be achieved. These features, in addition-toits novel sealing gasket construction, allows the ydevice to be used to closea hole ina Wallstructure normally containing or resisting relatively 'high pressures. t is of course apparent that, if so .desiredonly the'toggle bolt subassembly'comprising vattaching stem I l and lcrossarm means I'B can be used to retain the .hole sealing device in' place in the manner described in the above identilied patent application; however, `both 4orossarm` means l and i 9 are preferably used.

lHaving thus described my invention, it is -obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made the saine without departing from the Spiritof my invention; hence Izdo notwishrto be understood as limiting myself to the'erract .fori/n, construction, .arrangement 'andcombination of4 parts herein :sho-wn and described, and uses mentioned.

What I icl-aim as new-and desire-to rsecio'ehy 'Letters Patentis:

l, .A ltoggle boltfassemoly-including ana attaching stemfrstwcross armmeans fozremgagingirn surface operatively connected to said attaching stem and rotatable With respect thereto in a first plane containing the longitudinal axis of said stem, second cross arm means for engaging a surface operatively connected to said attaching stem and rotatable with respect thereto in a second plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said stem, and said second cross-arm means pivotally mounted to said rst cross-arm means on an axis laterally of the axis of the attaching stem and parallel thereto when the attaching stem and second cross-arm means are normal to each other.

2. A toggle bolt assembly including an attaching stem, first cross arm means for engaging a surface operatively connected to said attaching stem and rotatable with respect thereto in a iirst plane containing the longitudinal axis of said stem, and second cross arm means for engaging a surface operatively connected to said attaching stem and rotatable with respect thereto in a second plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said stem, first biasing means for rotating said stem and said first cross arm means relative to each other, first stop means resisting the action of said first biasing means for locating said rst cross arm means in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said stem, second biasing means for rotating said second cross arm means relative to said first cross arm means and said stem, and second stop means resisting the action of said second biasing means for locating said second cross arm means in a position transverse to said first cross arm means and to the longitudinal axis of said stem.

3. A toggle bolt assembly having an attaching stem and at least two relatively movable cross arm members for engaging a surface, said crossarm members pivotally mounted together, spring means normally biasing said cross-arm members and attaching stem in attached position transverse with respect to each other, and said members being automatically movable by the aforesaid spring means to positions transversely disposed With relation to each other and to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem.

4. A toggle bolt assembly including in combination an attaching stem and first and second cross-arm means pivotally connected together,

the first cross arm means operatively connected to said attaching stem, means normally biasing said rst cross arm means to assume a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, the second cross arm means operatively related to said rst cross arm means to move in planes parallel to each other, said irst and second cross-arm means pivotally connected together laterally of the connection of the first cross-arm means to the attaching stem, and means normally biasing said second cross arm means to assume a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rst cross arm means by pivoting about the connection between said first and second cross-arm means.

5. A hole sealing device including in combination a toggle bolt assembly comprising an attaching stem, rst cross arm means operatively connected to said attaching stem, means normally biasing said first cross arm means to assume a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, second cross arm means operatively related to said rst cross arm means to rotate in planes parallel to each other about an axis parallel to the attaching stem, spring means operatively connecting said rst apertures in said cross arm means and second cross arm means for normally biasing said second cross arm means to assume a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said rst cross arm means, and sealing gasket means cooperating With said toggle bolt assembly and comprising a relatively thick mat of resilient material positioned over the face of a rigid backing plate.

6. A hole sealing device including in combination a toggle bolt assembly comprising an attaching stem, vfirst cross arm means operatively connected to said attaching stem, means normally biasing said first cross arm means to assume a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, second cross arm means operatively related to said first cross arm means to rotate in planes parallel to each other about an axis parallel to the attaching stem, spring means operatively connecting said rst and second cross-arm means for normally biasing said second cross arm means to assume a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said iirst cross arm means, said first and second cross arm means having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures therein, and gasket sealing means operatively related to said toggle boltl assembly and having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures therein adapted to cooperate with the for receiving a plurality of tightening bolts.

7. A toggle bolt assembly including in combination a threaded attaching stem having a head portion, a first cross arm member having an axial bore therein and a longitudinal groove formed in one of the sides thereof, said attaching stern having the head portion thereof disposed in said groove and accessible to the bore in said member, biasing means disposed in the bore in said member and engaging the head portion of said attaching stem for normally biasing said cross arm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, a second cross arm member operatively connected to said cross arm member, and biasing means positioned on said second cross arm member and engaging said rst cross arm member for normally biasing said second cross arm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first cross arm member and said attaching stem.

8. A hole sealing device including in combination a toggle bolt assembly comprising a threaded attaching stem having a head portion, a first cross arm member having an axial bore therein and a longitudinal groove formed in one of the sides thereof, said attaching stem having the head portion thereof disposed in said groove and accessible to the bore in said member, biasing means disposed in the bore in said member and engaging the head portion of said attaching stem for normally biasing said cross arm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, a second cross arm member operatively connected to said cross arm member to rotate in planes parallel to each other about an axis parallel to the attaching stem, biasing means positioned on said second cross arm member and engaging said lirst cross arm member for normally biasing said second cross arm member to rotate to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first cross arm member, said rst and second cross arm members having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures spaced along the longitudinal axes thereof, and gasket sealing means operatively related to said cating with a aovaooe 'toggle bolt assembly, said gasket seal-ing means comprising a relatively thick Vmat of resilient material, a rigid backing pla-te supporting said lmat -of resilient material, and a bendable sheet of `xmateria-l covering the remaining -side of said rigid plate and bent around the Aedges thereof to -gri-p said mat of resilient material, said gasket seal-ing means 'ha-ving a plurality -of lbolt receiving apertures 4therein adapted to ncooperate with the apertures in said cross arm members for-receiving a plurality -of tightening bolts.

v9; A hole sealing'deriee including incombination a toggle -bolt assemblycomprising a 'threaded attaching stem having a head portion, a 'cross arm member having an axial bore therein and 4a iongitud-inal groove formed in one voi lthe sides thereof, said attaching stem having the head portion thereof disposed said 4groove and raccessibleto the bore in said member, biasing means disposed in the bore in said member and engaging the head portion roi said attaching stem vrfor normally Abiasing said cross-arm member .toa position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, a vsecond ycross :arm member operatively lconnected to said nist-mentioned f cross'arm member, said cross-arm members hav".- inga pluralityof bolt receiving apertures spaced along `the longitudinal axis thereof, :said crossarm members including `means for biasing said members to rotate in planes parallel to each other about an axis parallel to the attaching stem, 4and gasket sealing )means operatively related to said tQggle bolt assembly, said gasket sealing means vcomprising a relatively thick mat of resilient material, an'igid backing plate supporting said mat of resilient material, and a bendable 'sheet -of material covering the remaining side-,tof said rigid plate and bent around the edges thereof togrip4 said mat of resilient `material, said gasketsealing :means '.-having a plu-- rality of bolt receiving apertures ithereinadapted to cooperate with the apertures in said -cross arm members for receivinga plurality of tightening bolts;

'19. .A hole-sealingdevice "including in combination a toggle-'bolt assemblyfcomprising a threaded attaching stem hav-ing a 'quasi-spherical Av'hea-d portion with a shoulder therein, "a -rst cross `arm member having an axial -boreftherein communilongitudinal groove formed in one side thereof, a quasi-spherical socket forming a seat for receiving the head portion of said attaching stem disposed in the groove in said 'lrst cross arm member at the point of juncture thereof with said axial bore, an aperture formed in said rst cross arm member in the side thereof opposite said grooved side and disposed adjacent said quasi-spherical seat, said aperture being of a size to accommodate the spherical head portion oi said attaching stem, an adjustable threaded cap member for closing said aperture and having an inner concave surface for supporting said quasi-spherical head portion, a slide member positioned in said axial bore and engaging said shoulder in the spherical head portion of said attaching stem, a compression spring disposed in said axial bore and engaging said slide member, said compression spring in con- .junction with said slide member serving to bias said first cross arm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, an adjustable stop pin in said rst cross arm member for retaining said slide member in a position out of engagement with said shoulder, a second cross arm member pivotally connected to saidnrst cross arm #member by an adg'ustable post, and hav-ing` a cavity `therein surrounding the said post means -tor retaining said adjustable post within said first cross. arm member, and means tor retaining vsalo'l` post in assembled rela.- 'tion with said second cross arm member, 1.a coiled tension spring Iseated i-n vsaid =cav`ity, :means securing one end of lsaid spring to said .second cross farm member, means rsecuring the'- remain.- ing end of said tension spring ito said -irst cross 'meint-ier, :an adjustable lguide pin on said 'second cross .arm member, means .on said .first cross arm member xcooperating' with said adjustabile guide retaining said second cross ar 'iember fin a position-transverse to .the ,1on- .g tu nal axis of .said first Ycross arm member against .the .action of said .tension spring, ,said siret and second cross farm. members having ya of bolt receiJ/'fing .apertures therein, and gasket v.sealing vmeans operatitvely .related ,to said toggle 'boit :assembly Vand having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures` therein adapted 'to cooperate lwith the apertures in said cross 'arm members `for receiving :a plurality of tightening bolts.

.111. A toggle ibolt assembly including in .combination a threaded attaching stem having a quasispherical head portion with a shoulder therein, a iirst cross arm 4member Fhaving an .axial .bore .therein lcernrnunicating with a longitudinal groove for-med in one side thereof, Ya quasi-spherical socket forming `a seat 1for xreceiving the ,head portion of said attaching Ystem .disposed .in the groove in said first lcross arm member :at the poi-nt of juncture thereof with said axial bore, an aperture formed in said `first cross arm mem-- ber in the side thereof opposite said -grooved side and disposed adjacent 'said` quasi-spherical seat, said aperture being of a size to accommodate the Vspherical "head portion =of said attaching stem, -an adjustable threaded cap vmember for closing -said aperture and having an inner concave ysurface for vsupporting said quasi-spherical head portion, Aa yslide ymember positioned in said axial bore and engaging said shoulder in thesp'herical headportion of said attaching stem. a compression .Spring disposed *in said axial bore and engaging said Vslide member, said compression spring in conjunctionwith said-slide member serving to bias said `first Across arm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, an adjustable stop pin in said first cross arm member for retaining said slide member in a position out of engagement with said shoulder, a second cross arm member pivotally connected to said rst cross arm memvber by an adjustable post, and having a cavity therein surrounding the said post means for rctaining said adjustable post Within said rst cross arm member, and means for retaining said post in assembled relation with said second cross arm member, a coiled tension spring seated in said cavity, means securing one end of said spring to said second cross arm member, means securing the remaining end of said tension spring to said first cross-arm member, an adjustable guide pin on said second cross-arm member, and means on said rst cross-arm member cooperating with said adjustable guide pin for retaining saidsecond cross-arm member in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first cross-arm member against the action of said tension spring.

12. A toggle bolt assembly including in combination a threaded attaching stem having a quasi-spherical head portion with a shoulder therein, a rst crossarm member having an axial bore therein communicating With a longitudinal groove formed in one side thereof, a quasi-spherical socket forming a seat for receiving the head portion of said attaching stem in the groove in said rst crossarm member at the point of juncturethereof with said axial bore, an aperture formed in said first crossarm member in the side thereof opposite said grooved side and disposed adjacent said quasi-spherical seat, said aperture being of a size to accommodate the spherical head portion of said attaching stem, an adjustable threaded cap member for closing said aperture and having an inner concave surface for supporting said quasi-spherical head portion, a slide member positioned in said axial bore and engaging said shoulder in the spherical head portion ci said attaching stem, a compression spring disposed in said axial bore and engaging said slide member, said compression spring in conjunction with said slide member serving to bias said iirst crossarm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, and a threaded, adjustable stop pin in said iirst crossarm member for retaining said slide member in a position out of engagement With said shoulder.

13. A hole sealing device including in combination a threaded attaching stem having a quasispherical head portion with a shoulder therein, a first crossarm member having an axial bore therein communicating with a longitudinal groove formed in one side thereof, a quasi-spherical socket forming a seat for receiving the head portion of said attaching stem in the groove in said first crossarm member at the point of juncture thereof with said axial bore, a slide member positioned in said axial bore and engaging said shoulder in the spherical head portion oi said attaching stem, a compression spring disposed in said axial bore and engaging said slide member, said compression spring in conjunction with said slide member serving to bias said first crossarm member to a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said attaching stem, a second crossarm member pivotally connected to said nrst crossarm member laterally of the connection of the attaching stem to the rst cross-arm member, said rst and second cross-arm members operatively mounted to rotate in planes parallel to each other about the connection, a coiled tension spring mounted on said second crossarm member, means securing one end of said spring to said second crossarm member,

sion spring to said means for retaining said second crossarm member in a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first crossarm member against the action of said tension spring.

14. A sealing gasket structure for a hole sealing device including a toggle bolt assembly comprising an attaching stem, transversely arranged cross arms, and one or more bolts adapted to be aixed to the cross arms, said sealing gasket structure comprising a rigid supporting plate, said cross-arms being spring biased and operatively connected to rotate in planes parallel tc each other to positions transverse to each other. a relatively thick matting of resilient material mounted on said rigid supporting plate, and a relatively thin, bendable sheet of material having a comparatively high tensile strength disposed over said rigid supporting plate and bent over the edges thereof for gripping the resilient matting to hold the same in assembled relation with the backing plate, the structure thus comprised having a plurality of bolt receiving apertures therein, one of said apertures adapted to receive the attaching stem, and the other apertures adapted to receive the aforesaid bolts for additionally securing the gasket structure to the hole sealing device.

NICHOLS STEVENS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

